Coach Eric Held can't remember a group of Warriors better-suited to claim a breakthrough victory.

So the question the team is asking itself: "Why not now?"

"It's the most mature team, most experienced team and definitely the team that deserves it best," Held said. "This is probably, in my five years, our best team. And if you're gonna beat somebody in the first round, it might as well be Bastrop, you know?"

The Warriors are well-aware of their postseason history.

Defensive end Brandon Davenport and quarterback Brandon Fields, both seniors, begun smiling and nodding before questions regarding the team's playoff woes could be finished.

"We talk about it a lot," Fields said. "Coach Held says he believes in this 2013 class, that he believes we can go out in the playoffs and make history for St. Michael … It's a little bit of pressure. Pressure comes with everything, but we still feel confident that we're gonna go out there and win that game."

A four-hour road trip and an explosive Bastrop team is a combination that doesn't do the Warriors any favors.

But St. Michael isn't exactly used to any at this time of year anyway.

"We've had some unfavorable matchups in the past," Held said, beginning his list, which includes No. 8 Leesville and LSU running back Michael Ford in 2008, No. 1 seed and state runner-up Franklinton in 2009 and No. 3 Haughton in 2010.

At No. 13, Bastrop is St. Michael's second-lowest-seeded opponent during the Warriors' current six-year playoff run — but still no easy task.

The Rams' three losses came at defending Class 5A state champion West Monroe, 20-14, at defending 4A state champion Neville, 43-23, against against 4A No. 9 Franklin Parish, 23-20.

Bastrop Coach Thomas Bachman, a former Evangel and Texas Tech receiver, is in his second year after serving as offensive coordinator under former state championship coach Brad Bradshaw.

And Bastrop scores 35.4 points per game, including 40.6 at home and 42.4 in its victories.

"Just knowing it's a well-respected program, knowing that it'll be a good game, we feel good about that," Fields said. "But we play everybody with the same intensity, the same tempo. We're gonna go out there and play hard."

Rams quarterback Jaetarius Davis has completed 99 of 167 passes for 1,706 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions after playing running back in 2011.

Favorite target Jatavious Wilson is also among Louisiana's statistical leaders with 784 yards and 11 touchdowns on 55 receptions.

"They have a really good quarterback, Davenport said. "He's quick, and he can also throw the ball when he needs to. And then their wide receiver, No. 4, is all over the place. They can put him at quarterback, running back or wide receiver, and he can just do whatever. He definitely stands out on film, but I think we can stop them with the game plan we have.

"(They look) maybe a little bit like Plaquemine's running back, but Lutcher's overall team, because Lutcher has that mentality that, 'We're gonna come in here, and we're gonna beat y'all because we're the bigger, better team,' but that doesn't intimidate us at all."

Franklin Parish Coach Barry Sebren, whose Patriots eliminated St. Michael in 2011, talked each of the past few seasons about the importance of beating a team like Bastrop or Neville.

Franklin Parish finally defeated the Rams last week, and Held hopes his program can take a similar "big step" against the same team.

"Getting that first one kind of opens up the realm of possibilities where the kids believe they can get it," Held said.

Among other strategies, the Warriors hope to keep Bastrop's offense off the field by moving the football with a consistent run game.

Fields has rushed 92 times for 616 yards and 12 touchdowns, and completed 103 of 191 passes for 1,205 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Senior running back C.J. Okpalobi has rushed 125 times for 749 yards and nine scores and caught 25 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns.

Davenport, a leader on a veteran defense with eight senior starters, compared the upcoming visit to Bastrop its 2010 playoff trip to Haughton.

However, he hopes this ride home is with a victory, a better mood and some program history.

"It would mean a great deal to us, 19 seniors, and to the school because it would be the first playoff win the school's ever had," Davenport said. "It would be a great accomplishment that we've made this year. We just wanna end it really good."